Football

Football’s Brandon Chandler Takes Home Weekly Pioneer Football League Honor

Brandon Chandler

Oct 16, 2011

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the second time in his playing career Campbell defensive back Brandon Chandler was named the Pioneer Football League's Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 16.

Chandler earned the award after coming up with a pair of interceptions in CU's 35-21 win over Marist. Chandler's two picks was the sixth time in school history that a CU player has recorded multiple interceptions in the same game and the second time in his career that he has done the feat. The interceptions aided Campbell extended the team's winning streak to two games for the first time in school history.

Chandler's first interception of the day came on Marist's opening drive. His 14-yard return on the interception set Campbell's offense up for the first score of the game on the Jordan Cramer one-yard rush. The Kernersville, N.C. native continued to do impressive work on the Red Foxes' third drive when he picked off another errant pass and returned it 43 yards for a score. The interception touchdown return was the fourth in school history with Milton Brown turning the feat twice (Carthage – 9/27/08) and Cody Lyon doing it once (Morehead State – 10/30/09). The defensive touchdown was the second of the season for the CU defense with Michael Rudisill scoring on a fumble recovery against Apprentice (9/10). The touchdown was the second time that Chandler has reached the end zone in his career with the other one coming off an 86-yard kickoff return against Valparaiso (11/15/08). Chandler has now forced a turnover in three straight games with forced fumbles being recorded against Butler (10/8) and Drake (10/1) the previous two weeks.

Chandler continue to keep busy in all phases of the game as he also worked as the team's kickoff returner, punt returner and spending a series on the offensive side of the ball besides being the team's starting safety against Marist. The redshirt junior ended his day with 80 all-purpose yards (3 rush, 57 interception returns and 20 on his punt return) and three tackles.

Chandler also earned the league's weekly defensive award back during the 2009 season. He is the second Campbell player to earn weekly recognition from the conference this season with C.J. Oates taking home the offensive award on Sept. 11 after his game against Apprentice.

Chandler's selection was the eighth time all-time that a CU player has earned weekly recognition from the league since the program was restarted in 2008. Adam Willets has earned the PFL's Special Teams Award three times (10/25/09, 10/31/09, and 11/20/10). C.J. Oates was named the offensive player of the week (9/11). The Campbell defense has seen three different players earn weekly recognition in Milton Brown (9/29/08), Chandler (11/7/09 and 10/16/11) and Cody Lyon (10/31/09).

The Camels now return home for the team's annual Homecoming Game. CU is slated to take on San Diego on Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. at Barker-Lane Stadium/Ed Gore Field.